One of them held a pole to which a white
cloth was attached.
"I have a message from the rajah," he shouted out. The captain sent
for the interpreter, and went to the side of the quarterdeck.
"The rajah says that he does not want to have any more to say to
you. You want to take his country; he will not let you have it,
and if you do not go away in an hour, he will sink your ship."
"Tell him," the captain said, "that it will be the worse for him
if he tries it. I came up here at his invitation, and shall stay
just as long as I please."
The two Malays retired, walking in a quiet and dignified way.
The news soon ran through the ship of the defiance that had been
given, and excited the liveliest satisfaction. The men were shaking
hands, cutting capers, and indulging in much joking and laughter.
Half an hour later there was a sudden uproar in the town, drums were
beaten, horns sounded, and the Malays by the river bank speedily
retired behind the huts.
"You had better get the magazine opened, Mr. Ferguson, and everything
in readiness, but we won't beat to quarters till they begin."
The tumult on shore increased, and soon a few shots were fired from
behind houses and walls, the balls whistling overhead.
"There won't be much of that," the captain said, as he walked up
and down the quarterdeck with the first lieutenant; "we have seen
very few guns among them.
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